Many Graduate College workshops can be requested by student groups, postdoc organizations, faculty, and departments. These workshops introduce grad students and postdocs to important topics related to their professional and career development. Workshops are available on external fellowships, academic success, career development, and other topics. Learn more at https://grad.illinois.edu/general/request-workshop

August 23 is the last business day to cancel registration and receive a 100% refund (Withdrawal/Cancellation Form required); August 25 is the last day to cancel registration via Self-Service and receive a 100% refund. The refund schedule for Fall 2024 can be found on the Registrar's website. Students enrolled in non-standard part of term courses should refer to their graduate program for deadline information. Have questions about registration deadlines or submitting a Withdrawal/Cancellation form? Click here for an advising appointment!

International students on F-1 and J-1 student visas must be enrolled full time in the Fall and Spring terms to maintain their status. When finalizing your registration for the upcoming Fall 2024 term, international students should remember that while they may enroll in online courses, only one online course (up to a maximum of three credit hours) may count towards this full-time requirement. It is important that you finalize your full-time registration prior to the 10th day of classes (September 9) to maintain your status.

Group fitness classes including cycle, strength, HIIT, Pilates, Sculpt and Flow, etc. at Campus Recreation are available throughout the day to accommodate your class, work, research, and personal schedules. Receive a 10% discount for a group fitness membership using the code "GF10" if purchased on August 24 or August 25 on Active Illini.

Many funding agencies require a personal statement in addition to an applicant’s research proposal. Why?! What on earth are you supposed to talk about? If these questions have induced writer’s block, this workshop is for you. We will assess the range of personal statement prompts you may encounter and distill their shared essence. Participants will learn the qualities of a compelling statement and practice writing techniques to arrive at a complete first draft. Please register in advance for this online workshop. 

The Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) program, offered by the US Office of Personnel Management, provides graduates of master's and doctoral programs with a two-year professional development and leadership training experience in US federal agencies. Open mainly to US citizens. Applicants must complete their degrees by August 31, 2025. See details here.  

The beginning of the semester is a great time to evaluate your thesis goals! Take a look at our blog “New Year – New Thesis Goals” for advice on planning long-term and short-term projects, setting priorities, and holding yourself accountable. Keep an eye out for different events and resources to help you sharpen your skills and get off to a good start this semester! Some offices to learn more about include: the Writers Workshop; the Research Data Service; and the Scholarly Commons.

If you are graduating in the next year and plan to apply for faculty jobs, now is the time to get started! Openings for Fall 2025 faculty positions are already being posted. Graduate College Career Development is ready to help you understand the search process, develop application materials (cover letters, research statements, diversity statements, etc.), prep for interviews, and negotiate. Schedule a career advising appointment (https://grad.illinois.edu/careers/advising) and attend our Faculty Job Search Workshop Series starting next Tuesday (https://go.grad.illinois.edu/workshops).

The University Library and International Student & Scholar Services are delighted to welcome international graduate students and visiting scholars to participate in the 2024 Research Connection on Wednesday, September 4, 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm. This event connects international graduate students and visiting scholars with faculty advisors and campus research services. The event will take place in Room 2039 in the Campus Instructional Facility. Spouses, partners, and children are welcome! Snacks and light refreshments will be served! Please register here: go.illinois.edu/RC2024. 

The Illini Union Tech Zone has deals available for back-to-school. Until Sept. 30, when you purchase a new Mac, get FREE AirPods and when you purchase an iPad, get a FREE Apple Pencil Pro. For select Dell PCs, you can receive a rebate of $75 on purchase of $499-$998 and a $125 rebate on purchase of $999+. These rebate deals end Oct. 15.  

Do you want to meet other graduate students? Do you want to learn valuable skills for adjusting to graduate school? Do you want free food on a Tuesday night? The Institute of Genomic Biology is funding a by-students for-students workshop series to connect first year graduate students with each other and introduce them to resources to help them thrive in the transition to graduate school. RSVP for updates at this link if interested. The first workshop will be a student panel on Setting Boundaries and Expectations. Funded by the IGB DEI task force.

The Graduate Employees' Organization invites you to our weekly grad student socials at The Hound's Court at 120 N. Neil St., Champaign, IL. Come hang out with your union and meet grad students from across campus! We will be there every Friday during the fall semester. Follow us on Instagram for more information. We look forward to meeting you!

If you or a student you know may need support with their basic needs or financial stressors, please reach out.

The University of Illinois Counseling Center provides mental health counseling and well-being education for students. 

McKinley Health Center serves on-campus students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.